Things do not seem to have grown any worse for Thailand, but that also means that things aren't getting any better.
Thailand's score of 37 out of 100 (where 0 means a country's public sector is seen as highly corrupt and 100 is highly clean) is an indicator that people who interact with political life and administrative services like the police, land authorities, healthcare and education, encounter corruption on an all too regular basis.
It means that people cannot trust that decisions are fair, consumers might pay more for goods and services, safety standards might not be as good as they should be, and regulations designed to protect the environment might be ignored.
Graft in Phuket is no worse than other parts of Thailand, according Dr Sirichai Silpa-Ar-Cha, the Phuket Chamber of Commerce Secretary General.
The biggest problem, says Dr Sirichai, is a lack of clarity around laws and regulations. Without a checklist that is easy for both the public and officials to follow, the approval criteria for permits and licenses can depend on the judgement of individual public servants.
''If the regulation system were clearer people wouldn't do the wrong thing,'' Dr Sirichai says.
When public officials are underpaid, this can also create an incentive for them to behave badly, according to Dr Sirichai.
''Police might not have enough money to pay for fuel so they ask for bribes from people who don't wear motorcycle helmets.''
A public opinion survey by Transparency International in 2010 found that almost one in four people in Thailand reported paying a bribe in the previous year.
But that same survey also found that most people in Thailand think that ordinary people can make a difference in the fight against corruption.
It's a view shared by more than 1500 young Thais who will take to the streets of Bangkok today to mark International Anti-Corruption Day.
''We're taking a pledge to refuse to be corrupt and we are asking the public to take that stand with us,'' said Sayuti Salam, the President of the campaign group, Thai Youth Anti-Corruption Network.
''If we are going to fight corruption in Thailand, we have to start with ourselves first.''
As many as 600 students from Southern Thailand will participate in today's rally, which starts at 3pm at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre.
There are hopes that young people will lead the call for more openness and honesty across the country.
Transparency Thailand has been running education programs with students and teachers. The organisation will talk about its work in an event next Thursday in Bangkok along with the Centre for Philanthropy and Civil Society and NIDA.
''If we want to reduce corruption, it will depend on political will and punishment for those who are found guilty", says Kanokkan Anukansai, Director of Thailand's Centre for Philanthropy and Civil Society.
But Thailand is not alone in facing worrying levels of corruption.
Two-thirds of the countries in Transparency International's index scored below 50, indicating that ''public institutions need to be more transparent, and powerful officials more accountable,'' says the organisation.
Finland, Denmark and New Zealand tied for top position in this year's index. Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia came in last place with a score of eight.
Sophie Brown, a journalism masters student at the University of Hong Kong, is currently an intern at Phuketwan. She is a former communications officer at Transparency International.
"Police might not have enough money to pay for fuel so they ask for bribes from people who don't wear motorcycle helmets."
Nice sentence! Anyone think, police ask because no fuel in poloce vehicles?
"The biggest problem, says Dr Sirichai, is a lack of clarity around laws and regulations. Without a checklist ..."
One thing, another, if we stay close to the police: Pay them better, don't let them legally get their share from every fine, to rise the monthly salary! And kick them out of job (not transfer them to another station/province), in case they accept bribes:
"..t will depend on political will and punishment for those who are found guilty", says Kanokkan Anukansai"
Posted by Anonymous on December 9, 2012 11:41